What is unbelieveable is that the western democracies have paid to prop up the dispicable north korea regime...getting little to nothing in return from N. Korea.
It was the Clinton administration that wrongly thought they could influence NKs actions by funneling billions into the regime. Bush knew otherwise and rightly labeled NK part of the "axis of evil."
Since 1995, the United States has provided North Korea with over $1.2 billion in assistance, of which about 60% has paid for food aid and about 40% for energy assistance. As of early February 2011, the United States is not providing any aid to North Korea, except for a small medical assistance program. The Obama Administration, along with the South Korean government, have said that they would be willing to provide large-scale development aid if North Korea takes steps to irreversibly dismantle its nuclear program.
And many are arguing for expanded assistance.